Systematic Mapping of the Literature on Digital Twins Applied to Urban Circularity

Abstract

Due to the accelerated global urbanization process since the second half of the 20th century, the consequent increase in human susceptibility to natural disasters and the worsening of resource scarcity, the transition from the current linear economy to a circular model has become urgent. Urban resource flows must be objectively mapped to understand how waste can be reduced, or even eliminated. In this context, digital twins can become crucial to support the achievement of circularity by enabling the digitalization of the information related to urban processes and systems. Despite the growing interest in the themes of digital twins and urban circularity, research that operates on the intersection between them is still in its early stages. This research project proposes to carry out a systematic mapping and a systematized review of the literature on Digital Twins applied to Urban Circularity, to survey the current state of research in this area. Its objective is to understand the potential of applying this technology to the circular economy, and what computational tools and workflows are used in the field, in order to develop a theoretical framework for the topic. The expected result of this research is a protocol for the development of digital twins for the planning and management of urban circularity. This protocol is a contribution towards the renewal of knowledge territories, particularly those located around university campuses in urban fringes, in the context of knowledge-based urban development.